‘None of my patients have ever been harmed and none have ever made a complaint about me’ Nov 21 2010 by Daniel Fisher, Wales On Sunday A DOCTOR banned from practising medicine and branded a “real risk to patients” has spoken for the first time of her battle to clear her name.

Dr Sarah Myhill, 52, who specialises in the treatment of ME and chronic fatigue, has been banned from practising medicine for 12 months pending a full investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Dr Myhill, who runs a private practice in Llangunllo, Powys, has claimed to “pioneer” treatments combining conventional medicine with herbal and homoeopathic techniques.

But the GMC is investigating allegations made by other GPs about her management of a patient with a neurological disease and another complaint about the contents of her website – which among other things advised against women taking the oral contraceptive pill.

In an exclusive interview with Wales on Sunday, Dr Myhill has revealed:

- She intends to fight the GMC all the way to the European Court of Human Rights if she has to;

- she can’t afford to hire professional lawyers to prepare her case;

- the battle to clear her name has “engulfed” her life and “emasculated” her professionally;

- that she has been overwhelmed by the kindness and support she has received from her patients.

Dr Myhill’s battles with the GMC began in 2001 following a series of complaints from other doctors. Those allegations were dropped in 2007 with no case to answer. But further complaints emerged, firstly from a group of doctors concerned that she recommended a B12 injection to a patient.

A second came from an anonymous complainant who alleged the information on her website was “very worrying” and was concerned “patients are being seriously misled”.

On the basis of those allegations, in April this year a GMC panel imposed a series of conditions on Dr Myhill’s registration, banning her from prescribing prescription medicines and ordering her to remove large sections of her website.

The decision was upheld in a further hearing last month, in which GMC panel chairman Dr Peter Maguire said: “There may be impairment of your fitness to practise which may pose a real risk to patients and as a result, to members of the public.”

But in response, thousands of Dr Myhill’s supporters and former patients have spoken out against the GMC’s “witch hunt” and called for her to be reinstated.

More than 4,000 patients and supporters have signed a petition and more than 1,000 have written letters directly to the GMC.

Speaking at her Powys surgery, Dr Myhill said: “The main allegation is from an anonymous e-mail but the GMC has received more than 1,000 letters from my patients supporting me.

“It feels as if they are ignoring the evidence that doesn’t suit their case.

“The GMC have not made any specific allegations about me. They only talk about my ‘potential’ risk to patients without saying what that risk is. I point out to them that by that measure any doctor in any surgery is a ‘potential’ risk.”

Dr Myhill said she was determined not to give up the fight which had engulfed her life for more than nine years.

“I have been completely emasculated professionally,” she said.“I can’t work as a doctor which means I can’t afford representation.

“So between me and the GMC – who have all their barristers and lawyers at their disposal – it just isn’t a level playing field. The next step is the High Court, where I will argue that they have not explained the specific allegations and have therefore breached my human rights. I have been punished with no proper trial. The fact is that none of my patients have ever been harmed and none of my patients have ever made a complaint about me.”

While her professional career hangs in the balance however, Dr Myhill said she was determined not to let the issue become too personal.

“Of course it does take its toll on you emotionally,” she said. “I would much rather be seeing my patients, horse riding and generally getting on with things rather than spend 24/7 immersed in my case. But I have to do that to give myself the best possible chance. I am not letting it become too personal. I am keeping cool, calm and professional.”

She said she was now keeping afloat by dipping into her savings and by working as a nutritional therapist.

“I will survive and get by but it is my patients who are the ones who will suffer,” she said. “I can’t give them the service I would like to give them. The GMC won’t listen to them – it’s like their opinions count for nothing. For many of my patients, when they come to me they have done so because they have reached the end of the road. They have no-one else to go to.

“It meant once I was banned I was unable to refer them on to anyone else. The patients are the forgotten victims in all of this. They could not be more supportive or generous to me. Some have even sent me money for the fighting fund, which I will use towards a barrister for the court appearances.”

The next step is a High Court hearing next month after which she has said she would take her case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

About Me

I am a Christian, saved by grace alone through faith alone. I have had the neuroimmune disorder ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, since 1991. From North Somerset, now in N. Ireland. Please see my website for further information about ME.